NOFD: Five injured in 3-alarm fire overnight at N.O. East apartment complex

As firefighters were raising a ladder to rescue the residents, they said a woman threw her child out of a second-floor window to them below.

Author:
WWLTV

Published:
7:45 AM CST February 3, 2018

Updated:
6:41 PM CST February 3, 2018

NEW ORLEANS -- Five people are recovering after a fire that reportedly started in a vehicle and spread to an apartment complex in New Orleans East.

It happened at a building located at the corner of Alcee Fortier Boulevard and Peltier Drive.

Firefighters said multiple people began calling around 12:30 a.m. reporting a fire that started in a vehicle spread to an apartment building.

When firefighters arrived, they said the building had heavy smoke and was engulfed in fire. Several firefighters began going door-to-door to find people after reports of residents being trapped.

As NOFD began to attack the fire, a company officer said he heard screams coming from a second-floor window located near the building's courtyard. As firefighters were raising a ladder to rescue the residents, they said a woman threw her child out of a second-floor window to them below.

In all, officials said four people were rescued from the fire. Two adults and two children were rescued from the fire.

Eight apartment units were affected by the fire.

One firefighter suffered a shoulder injury and was brought to a local hospital. Officials said the extent of his injury is unknown at this time, but he is expected to live.

NOFD officials said because initials calls said the fire was in a vehicle that spread, a full investigation needs to be conducted because a cause can be determined.